Diagnosed with immature teratoma, a rare ovarian cancer, shortly after her 15th birthday in 2021, Nyla is now under the care of Janet Yoon, M.D., pediatric hematologist-oncologist at City of Hope and is enrolled in the Childhood, Adolescent And Young Adult Survivorship Program. When Make-A-Wish America offered her a chance to fulfill a personal dream, she chose something different. Instead of using the wish for herself, she turned it into an opportunity to support young people on their own cancer journeys, personally selecting items she hoped would bring comfort, joy and a welcome distraction.
From Jellycat stuffed animals and Pokémon cards to NeeDoh squishy toys, books and headphones, every gift was chosen with intention.
“That's all I really care about, is that I just make someone smile a little bit and make someone happy,” Nyla said.
Yet what she brought to each room went far beyond what was in her cart. For the patients and families she met, seeing a young survivor thriving years after treatment offered a glimpse of what’s possible.
Her visit also carried a meaningful impact for staff. Care teams who supported Nyla through treatment saw a former patient return whole — healthy, confident and thriving. Moments like these reinforce purpose, strengthen morale and remind teams of the long term impact of their work.
Now a psychology student at the University of Hawaiʻi, Nyla continues to carry forward the compassion and generosity that shaped her own journey.
